Air-spring.



J. G. FUNK.

AIR SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. I9I2.

Patented MayIS, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET NITNESSES Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1. G. FUNK.

AIR SPRiNG. vMPucfmon man oec. 1a. 1912.

I l/NvEN'fon Sermon.

.ain-sacarme.

Macnee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1s, 1915.

Application flied December 13, 1912. Serial No. 736,462. l

To ZZ whom it may concern: A

Be it known that lf, JOHN G. FUNK, a citizen of the United States, andresiding in the borough of Swissvalc, in the county of Allegheny andState or" Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and usefullmprovenients in Air-Springs, of which the following is a specification.s My invention consists of a new and irnproved air-spring or cushiondevice intend ed for use either as asubstitute for or in `combinationwith the usual resilient metal v suflicient to cushion or balance theload imposed upon said-spring,.the imposing of an increased load uponsaid air-spring automatically resulting in pumping up the air pressurein the cylinder to balance the same.. Any reduction of pressure whichmayresult 'from leakage or other causes is automatically compensated forby a temporary resumption of the pumping process. An automatic reliefvalve may be provided for the cylinder whereby a limit of cylinderpressure may he determined and any rise above said limit automaticallyrelieved. A rela tively heavy coiled spring is preferalolyl placed insaid cylinder between the inner enhl l tion of the pump plunger headwith its valve of the same and the piston to provide initialreciprocation of the I pumping of air into the cylinder. New andimproved means are, provided for mou' ting the piston on the vehicle,and other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts willappear from the following description. In thc accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a vertical section of my air-spring inter*- posed betweenthe frame and the axle of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail insecf open; l? 1 g. 3 is an enlarged `detail in section of the reliefvalve; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section of the piston, showingits valve open; Fig. 5 Vis a perspective of one of the piston for theinitial followers for the leather packing cups of the piston; Fig. 6 isan enlarged detail, partially in section along the line VL-V'I in Fig.1, showing the method of connecting 'the outer end of the piston rod tothe ve-.

hicle, and F ig. 7 is a plan view, partially in section along the lineVII-VH in Fig. 6, showing said connection.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

A represents a portion of a vehicle frame and B represents one of theaxles of the ve hicle.

l is a cylinder closed at its inner or upper end vby a cap 2 and closedat.its lower or outer end by ahead 3 by means of which said cylinder maybe bolted or otherwise secured to the frame A.

4 is a piston working in said cylinder. Said piston is hollow, havinganinner or upper bore 5 of greater diameter than its are threaded. Theshoulder formed by the ends of the adjacentbores is marked 7 'l Thelower or outer external diameter 8 of said pistonvmaintains a sliding twith the cylinder 1, while the upper or inner external rol cuter orlower bore 6. Both of said bores diameter of said piston 1s reduced toform a seat 9' for the leather packing rings or cups 10 and their metalfollower rings 11, the upper ring 11 being threaded on the portion 9 ofthe piston to clampY the leather cups and their followers snugly intoYplace.

12 is the piston rod having a cylindrical longitudinal bore 13 andextendinglthrough a stuffing box 14. in the head 3 of the (cylinder. Theinner end of piston rod 12 is screwed into the reduced bore 6 of thepiston 4. i

15 is a concentric conical projection on the inner face of head 3 whichis adapted to seat in the corresponding recess 16 in the face of guidethe' lunger' rod 18.

19 is a eXible leather diaphragm or disk having its edge clamped againstshoulder 7 I by the lower end of tubel?, and provided with perforations2O which register with the annular concentric groove 2 1 in the upperrend of piston rod 12.

.22 is a puppet valve whose head rests upon the inner face of disk 19and whose stein,

f. the upper end of said barrel is contracted to l vinder pressure.-

preferably squared, extends through said disk and seats in thecylindrioalhore 13 of piston rod l2.

23 is a plunger head working in barrel l and having its lower exteriordiameter, 24, in sliding fit with the barrel 17 and its upper exteriordiameter reduced to forni a seat for the leather.' packing vcups 26 andtheir nietal follower rings 27, the upper follower being threaded ontothe wall oi seat f5 to hold said cups snugly in place.

The upper bore of head Bil enlarged and threaded to receive thethreadeil end of plunger rod 1S while the lower bore of said headisrodiieed to aeeommodaie the squared stein ol' the valve 2) whose head"works in the bore QU. lhe upward movement oll the puppet valve '2D mayvbe limited bv :in v eoiivenieiit means, such' as astop pin lll). 'lhelower end olf head 2li is pi'e'l.`erabl v4 countersunl; as at il toprovide. clearance tor the valve mechanism in. piston -l should saidhead 23 strike said piston.

32 is a nipple screwed into a threaded coneentrie hole in eap 2 andIwhose lower-bore 33 is enlarged' and threaded to receive the upper endol plunger rod 1S whose bore, SLL

1'e0"sters with the bore of said nipple 3;). lt is evident that theextension of rod I3 in the o vlinder l mav be adjustei'l by said nipple.

lt is evident that the barret .if is mounted on and reeiprm'ales withpiston --l and the plunger head LS is mounted and reepro-A 'Cates withcylinder l.

The upper end ot the bore-ol' nipple 252 is normali)I closed by meansol' an outwardly Opcning valve 15 whose .siem is guided bym Cage screwedon nipple 321,11 roiled spring 37 embracing said stein and bearing atits ends against the valve and the enge 313 to hold said valvei'esilieutlv in its seat. lv sei'ewing up or unserewing the (rage lu.said valve is adjusted to open outwardly at aug,Y desired internalpressure in the' cylinder l..

3S is a lateral port in the w-all of plunger rod IS ronneeing the bore--lolE said rod withithe interior oli' the eylindeif l.

3S) is a relatively' strong coiled spring in the. @vlinder -lV whoseends areladapled to vContact iespia'tive l vy with therpiston l and theleap 2 ot o vliiider l. collar l0 is sere.ve l on the hase o' barrel l'Tto serve as a guide for spring lfl' to keep it in proper place. l p yThe internal operation ol! in v air-spring is as follows. Assuminginitial atniospherie pressure in the oylinifler l. the reliel'- valve isadjusted to relieve at theI proper cyl- 'lhus a, heavily loaded vehielo`will require a greater v vliiider pressure to balaiioe oi' cushion theload than a Lightly loaded vehiele. so that the relie'l. veilve, shouldbe set to operate automatieally whenever the 1 'internal pressure ot theair-spriiig rises above that dictated by the load upon the spring. Thevehiole is now put into inotion and the spring 39 contacting with thecap 2 and the'piston 4 causes the piston to recipro- `Cate'in thecylinder, thus causing a likev relative movement between the barrel i7and the plunger head 23. rlhe descent ot'- head 23 in barrel 17 closesthe valve in the piston and prevents the eseape of air through thepiston rod l2, and opens the valve '2D in the plunger head, permittingthe air compressed under the head 22? to pass up through said head intothe bore of plunger rod lo and out through the port 3S into the interiorol.l the c vlinder l. 'l`he rise ot head I3y in barrel '1T' will elosethe valve 21) in said head and such up the leather disk` 1S) and openthe valve 22 to aeiinit air into barrel li'. Al t is evident that thereeiprocation ot' the'head l and the barrel 1T will graduall)Y establishand maintain an air-pressure in said Cylinder l which will be suflirientto balance ythe load on the air-spring.V When he pressure in cylinder lis siiiieient to `properly balance the load on the air-spring, thepressure above the valve *29 will prevent Y the said 'alve from openingtoadmit more air, since th:l eileet of the load tending to open saidvalve is balanced by the pressure above said nire. bueh balancingpressure, once established 'will l i, automatically inaintaiiual withoutfurther admission of air. 1n ease. ot leakage, as ,between the pistonand the e vlinder,'the internal pressure ofthecylinder will no longei.'be 'able to-prevent thi.` valve 25.) opening and therefore a 'fresh.supply oli4 air will be pumped into the ovlinder to eompeusate. 'l'orsin-li leakage or other loss. l'ii case the load upon, the air spring isinereasedr` the pumping of yair into said spring will be resumed untilouee more the air-pressure in the evliiuler balances the load upon the.air-spring, whereupon the irltrmluetion of air will Cease and thebalance hemaintained In ease ofa sudden jolt or' abnormal reeiproeationof the air-spring u'nduly raising the internal pressure of'thec'vliiider. the reliefl valve '35 will opeirand auto inalirallv. relievethe exeess pressure and close ininua'liatel)7 without .'l'urlzfher lossol press-ure ll' desired, the i'eliell valvemav he omitted and theexeess pressure be par mitl'ed lo dissipate through leakage-as .bei-'l'ore i'el'rrred to.

n'v eonvenieut means ma)y be en'ipldv'ed lor mounting the evlindei andpiston'on thi` vehirl l have shown a simple, vet llexihle and ellieien(i'o-iiii\el'io1i l'or the piston rod.`

wherein the lower end olt said rod is seijewed iiilo a radial por( -v-llin the shorl sha l't lf2 whirli is sealed in and` rorlv's in the bore'l) in the head ol' ahole'i'is l-l. slot l5 in said head iuleiseels the-bore -lto arrommodate the piston rod l, permitting .the saine to beserewed into the port -ll` and also permitting the shat't 42 to roeli.lit is transverse 'cally connected with and moving Liedes-s evident thatthe shaft 42 cannot be unseated Jfrom the @levis without firstunscrewing the piston rod l2. `-'1`he rock shaft 42 is provided with anaxial bore or passage 46 which connectstlie bore 13 of piston 12 toatmosphere. I

The lower ends of clevis 44 are provided With a cross-pin 47 upon whichare pivoted the lower ends ofI a second clevis48 nesting in clevis 44. l

49 is a spacer ring on pin 47 between the legs of clevis 48. A

50 in the cross-pin in the upper portion of clevis 48 which passesthrough the eyel` on one end of a leaf-s aring 52 Whoseother end issecured to .the rame A by any convenient means, as by bridle 53. Theleaf-A spring 52 is secured to axle B intermediate of its ends as bycollar 54.

It is evident from the foregoing'that my air-cushion is automatic in itsaction, pumping itself up to balance any load that may be imposed uponit, maintaining said balance, compensating for leakage of vair-pressure,and relieving excessv pressure automatically. By adjusting the reliefvalve, the air-spring may be adapted to-'prope'rly support and cushionanygiven load. The methodot mounting shown removes all danger of injuryto or loss of eectiveness of the air-spring, and is/ both inexpensiveand substantial.

It is evident that I may omit the spring 39 and initially-pump thecylinderup to the proper pressure by means oi' a suitable pump beforestarting the vehicle to travel but I prefer the automatic pumping actiondescribed. Y

Although for the sake of elearness I have minutely described theembodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, "I do not wish tolimit myself thereby but claim* broadly-v 1. In an air-spring, acylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, an air-pumping chamber mountedon said piston and having a valved inlet-port communicating with theatmosphere, a pumping-piston worlzing'in said air-pumping chamber andmechanically connected With and moving With said cylinder and providedwitha valved outletport, constituting the outlet from said chamber.

2. In an air-spring, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, anair-pumping chamber mounted on said piston and having a valvedinlet-port communicating with lthe atmosphere, a pumping-piston workingin said air-pumping chamber and mechaniith said cylinder and providedwith a vaived outlet-port, constituting the outlet from said Y chamlwnand an automatic pressure-relief valve for said cylinder.

In an air-spring, aneylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, anair-pumping chamber mounted on said piston and having a 4valvedinlet-port communicating with the atmosphere, a pumping-piston Workingin said air-pumping chamber and mechanically connected with and movingwith said cylinder and provided with a valved outletport, constitutingthe outlet from said chamatmosphere, a pumping-piston Working in saidair-pumping chamber and mechani-v cally connected Wlth and moving withsaid cylinder and provided with-a valved outletj port, constituting theoutlet from said chamber, an automatic pressure-relief valve for saidcylinder, and acoiled Aspring interposed between said cylinder-pistonand the end ofl said cylinder.

,- 5'. In combination With the cylinder, piston and'. piston rod of anair-spring, a mounting for said piston rod consisting of 'a block havinga longitudinal bore and a transverse slot intersecting said bore, .and arock-shaft seated in said bore and-having a radlal port, the end of saidpiston rod eX- tending through said slot and being secured in said port.v

6. In combination with the cylinder, pis ton and piston rod of. anair-spring, said piston rod being hollow for the introduction of airinto said air-spring, a mounting for said piston rod consisting of anelement having a longitudinal bore and a. transverse slot intersectingsaid bore, and a rock-shaft nal. passage and a radialr port, the end ofsaid piston extending through said slot and being-secured in said portand the interior 11o of said hollow piston rod communicating with thelongitudinal passage in said rock shaft for the admission of air intosaid piston rod. f

7. In an air-spring, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, anair-pumping chamber carried by said piston and having a valved.inlet-port communicating with the atmosphere, the upper or inner end ofsaid pumping chan-ber being open to the admission of iuid fri-,fin theinterior of said chamber, and a pumping-piston Working in saidair-chamber and carried by said cylinder and provided with a. valvedoutlet port, constitutingthe outlet for said chamber.

8. in un air-spring, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, anair-pum'iing chainher carried .by said piston and having a.

valved inlet-port cemmunicating with the. atmosphere, the upper orinnerend of saidv pumping chamber being' open to; the admisl fia-useated in said bore and having a longitudision of fluid from theinterior of said chamber, a pumping-piston Working in sind airchamberund carried by seid cylinder and provided Witha. valved outlet port,coustitutiug'the outlet for said chamber, end in automaticpressure-relief valve -or seid cylinder. Y

S). ln :1n nir spring, i cylinder; n, piston reciprocable therein; anair pumping chamlier mounted on said piston Within saidcyliiider :indhaving an inu/'iirdly opening uir valve connecting said chamber toutmospliere; u pumping piston mechanically conneeted with und movingwith suid cylinder Werl-:ing` in Suid chamber, und :in inwardly openingy'uli'e in said pumping piston connecting seid chamber with the interiorof said cylinder whereby when the pressure in seid cylinder issuilicient to sustain the loud imposed upon said air spring seid lustinentioued vulve is closed.

10. In un nir spring, a cylinder; a piston valve connecting said chamberto atmosphere; i pumping` piston mechanically conf iieeted "ith andmoving with said cylinder Working in saidchainber; un inwardly opening`vulve iu` said pumping pist-on Connecting seid chamber with the interiorof said Cylv iiider whereby when the pressure injsiiid cylinder issul'licient to sustain the load imposed upon said :iir spring said lestmentioned vulve is closed, und zi relief valve for the escape of excesspressure from said cylindei'.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Penne., this "l'lth

